ArbitraryGeekdom: Cord cutting 101

How to Save Money by Ditching Your Cable Bill!

Don’t you hate paying for all of those shopping channels, infomercials, and channels that aren’t even in your language? Do you wish that you could have the chance to pay only for what you watch? Maybe you should try “cutting the cord!” It could give you the chance to slice the cost of your cable/satellite bill in half – and could even open the possibility of getting more content to enjoy!

So, What is “Cutting the Cord?”

For those unfamiliar with the term, cutting the cord is the act of canceling normal television services, such as cable/satellite services and finding alternatives in order to save money. Alternatives can include Internet-based content, over-the-air television (OTA) stations, or a combination of both. In recent years, cutting the cord has drastically grown in popularity. It isn’t for everyone, but everyone should at least take the time to consider switching themselves.

Can I Still Get the Shows I Watch Now?

Most of the shows that you currently receive today via cable or satellite can be either freely or cheaply obtained over the Internet with little to no fuss. With services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Instant Streaming and iTunes, you can expect to get most major shows that air on TV today. You may even be surprised to find that the shows you watch are freely available on the TV network’s website.

Over-the-Air (OTA) Television Stations

Remember those ancient “rabbit ear” antennas on top of TV sets? Contrary to popular belief, you can still receive some of the major channels without paying for cable or satellite with an antenna: The only cost is the price of the antenna itself. The picture quality of programming received with an antenna can rival (or even beat) what you receive with your current subscription. Channels available can range from PBS to your local news stations. To find out what channels are available to you with an antenna, you can use a website such as AntennaWeb.org. One additional plus to using OTA channels is that you can use a DVR to record the shows you receive and watch them later.

OTA DVRs

If you are planning on going the OTA route, the Tablo is a relatively new product on the market that acts as a DVR. It connects to your TV and allows you to use streaming media players, such as a Roku or Amazon Fire TV, to reach every room in the house. It currently comes in three versions; one that has a built-in antenna for folks that live in metro areas, a 2-tuner without an internal antenna for those who don’t, and a 4-tuner for those who are addicted to their TV.

Note: The number of tuners in any DVR tells you how many shows you can record at the same time.

Internet Content

The availability of Internet-based content has grown significantly. Top players such as Netflix and Hulu have upped their game in order to beat the competition and deliver the best content to consumers. This high availability of online content has caused more and more consumers to flock to these types of services. Some content is freely available, while others are paid services. One caveat of using free services is that shows seem to “expire” and are removed from the website after a certain amount of time.

Apps/Channels

Most streaming media players have their own form of apps or channels. These channels give you access to Internet content directly from the source. These apps or channels include Hulu, Amazon Instant Streaming and those created by the networks themselves. You are normally limited to what is available for your specific device, but can get expanded content using tools such as PlayOn, Kodi, or Plex.

PlayOn

PlayOn is an application you can put on a computer that allows you to stream Internet content directly from webpages to your streaming device, even if that website doesn’t have an app or channel for your device. This can be used to fill any gaps in the channels/apps available on whichever streaming device you choose to purchase. If you don’t mind leaving a computer on constantly, it can expand the possibilities of what your device can support. If it’s available on the network’s website for free, you can get it with this program. You can even opt to purchase the additional PlayLater add-on and be able to record shows so you can avoid losing them. Also, with the PlayLater addon, you can record from paid services such as Netflix and Hulu. You can check out PlayOn at their website HERE to learn more about it and which devices are supported.

What do I need?

Amazon Fire TV Stick

In order to join the club of the cord cutters, you will want some basic equipment. First off, you will want to get a streaming media player. The more popular brands are Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast. Which device you should get is dependent on what your needs are. Take into consideration what channels and content providers are available on the device compared to what content you’d likely use. An antenna is the minimum requirement if you want to go the OTA route. As with anything else, the sky is the limit! Simply research your needs and find out what equipment will fill that need.

Get to cutting!

And there you have it! Cutting the cord is simply kissing your cable/satellite companies goodbye and saving some cash on your entertainment costs. With the money you save, you might even be able to add some premium services like HBO Now and Hulu Plus with Showtime to give you even more to enjoy. Cutting the cord might seem a bit daunting to some, but as with everything new, you will get accustomed to watching TV in this new and exciting way. In future posts I will go over the specifics of cutting the cord such as the devices, the costs and challenges involved.

Links/references

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Cord cutting 101